March 21, 20205 yr There was an article in the FT last weekend (Simon Kuper's column) that laid out the Paris expansion of the Metro/RER system to 68 new suburban stations. The stations are planned to be population centers with essentially unlimited density zoning (ultimate population expected to equal 1.5x Paris today) in an 800 meter (about half a mile) radius around each station. The plan is not Paris-centric; this time they want to connect the suburbs to each other. The construction timetable began in 2015 and a large portion isexpected to be completed by 2030, 100% finished in 2050. I don't know if rail transit will still be a preferred method of travel in 2050; but the right-of-way will undoubtedly remain valuable and it's nice to see *somebody* has a long-term vision. If you can find a way around the paywall: https://www.ft.com/content/1aa745d8-6330-11ea-a6cd-df28cc3c6a68 Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
May 1, 20205 yr money is in for commuter rail work and expansions in chile: https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/main-line/chile-approves-us-1-9bn-2020-22-rail-investment-plan/
May 1, 20205 yr On 3/21/2020 at 11:47 AM, Dougal said: There was an article in the FT last weekend (Simon Kuper's column) that laid out the Paris expansion of the Metro/RER system to 68 new suburban stations. The stations are planned to be population centers with essentially unlimited density zoning (ultimate population expected to equal 1.5x Paris today) in an 800 meter (about half a mile) radius around each station. The plan is not Paris-centric; this time they want to connect the suburbs to each other. The construction timetable began in 2015 and a large portion isexpected to be completed by 2030, 100% finished in 2050. I don't know if rail transit will still be a preferred method of travel in 2050; but the right-of-way will undoubtedly remain valuable and it's nice to see *somebody* has a long-term vision. If you can find a way around the paywall: https://www.ft.com/content/1aa745d8-6330-11ea-a6cd-df28cc3c6a68 i believe this is it -- le grand paris express plan: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Paris_Express 15 will be the new circle line -- i think its all subway -- pretty amazing.
May 8, 20205 yr for some far too quick eye candy -- here are 10 most beautiful train stations via curbed:
May 13, 20205 yr at long last, dublin is moving forward with metro and commuter rail plans: https://www.railjournal.com/in_depth/irish-capital-updates-metro-plan
July 18, 20204 yr slowed by corona, the northern section of paris line 14 should open this year. its part of le grand paris express plan: https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/metros/paris-metro-line-extension-on-schedule-for-2020-opening/
July 23, 20204 yr More delays and overruns for Crossrail: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/london-crossrail-delayed-further-with-higher-costs-seen/ar-BB176W9v?ocid=spartandhp A mid-2021 opening date for the central part of the system has been pushed back to....? No promises for a late 2021 opening so it could be 2022.
July 26, 20204 yr 5 hours ago, mrnyc said: i was just wondering what was going on with the crossrail project. We all are. That said, if they do build Crossrail 2, it being England, and it being 10 years from now, no doubt they'll go with different software and specs and we'll get to watch all of this nonsense from afar once more.
July 28, 20204 yr a push to open unused train lines in germany -- German coalition recommends reopening 4000km of lines Jul 27, 2020 Written byOliver Cuenca A coalition of the Association of German Transport Companies (VDV) and Allianz pro Schiene have proposed reopening up to 238 disused or freight-only lines to passenger services, totalling a potential 4016km of infrastructure. The Passau – Freyung line, which currently carries summer services, is among the proposed lines. The analysis, published earlier this month, shows that three million German residents currently without access to rail services in 291 towns could benefit if the proposed lines were reopened. This follows the approval of more than €10bn of additional rail investment funding by the German government for federal states, for reopening and electrification projects between 2021 and 2031. Since the 1994 rail reform that formed national railway German Rail (DB) and permitted open access operation and tendering for regional passenger services, the German passenger network has shrunk by 3600km, with a further 2500km of freight lines also closed. The majority of closures have been in former East Germany. Since then, only around 933km have reopened. However, the proposal suggests that most towns lacking suitable rail connections are in populous western states such as Bavaria, Rhineland-Palatinate and North Rhine-Westphalia, where the former German Federal Railway undertook widespread closures from the 1950s to the 1980s. By contrast, some eastern German states have no towns identified in the analysis. 120 of the 123 larger unconnected towns, representing a combined population of 1.8 million, are on existing lines that are either unused or exclusively for freight. Some lines presently operate summer weekend or heritage trains, whereas others proposed are closed or partly dismantled. more: https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/main-line/german-coalition-recommends-reopening-4000km-of-lines/ Edited July 28, 20204 yr by mrnyc
September 24, 20204 yr nigeria -- you're getting rail service! https://www.railjournal.com/financial/funding-approved-for-us-1-96bn-nigeria-niger-line/
October 17, 20204 yr Show of hands - who has gone 268mph on the ground? In the summer of 2018 I went to Shanghai for work. On the way back to the airport, I rode the maglev. Top speed 431 km/hr (268mph). The system is 30.5 km (19miles) with just the two end stations. This video is pretty much the entire journey. I included captions at several speed increments plus at top speed. There's a train going the other direction just after the 4:00 mark. Both trains are near top speed so it's quite intense - somewhere in the neighborhood of 850 km/hr relative to each other. I figured some people here would enjoy this video. When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
November 10, 20204 yr Meanwhile across the pond.... Europe plans bigger HSR network https://trn.trains.com/news/news-wire/2020/11/09-europe-plans-new-network-of-international-high-speed-trains "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 21, 20204 yr Eurostar ridership down 95%. Only running 2 trains per day instead of as many as 60: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/21/business/eurostar-pandemic-train-europe.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage
December 24, 20204 yr On 10/17/2020 at 5:14 PM, Boomerang_Brian said: Show of hands - who has gone 268mph on the ground? In the summer of 2018 I went to Shanghai for work. On the way back to the airport, I rode the maglev. Top speed 431 km/hr (268mph). The system is 30.5 km (19miles) with just the two end stations. This video is pretty much the entire journey. I included captions at several speed increments plus at top speed. There's a train going the other direction just after the 4:00 mark. Both trains are near top speed so it's quite intense - somewhere in the neighborhood of 850 km/hr relative to each other. I figured some people here would enjoy this video. whoa that was awesome good work. about 20miles and it was over in a blink really, thats crazy. not sure but i think the fastest ive gone on is the shinkansen, which is a whole 100 klics an hour slower. here is some comparison i saw: The maximum Shinkansen operating speed is 320 km/h (200 mph) (on a 387.5 km section of the Tōhoku Shinkansen). For other trains: Test runs have reached 443 km/h (275 mph) for conventional rail in 1996, and up to a world record 603 km/h (375 mph) for SCMaglev trains in April 2015.
December 30, 20204 yr The McTrain: The Rise and Fall of McDonald's Ambitious Plan to Conquer the Railroads Not some decommissioned railcar turned into a diner, but an actual dining car that served on a long-distance passenger route. But as Mickey D's found out the hard way, running a stationary restaurant is one thing, and operating one that crosses a country daily is something completely different. https://www.thedrive.com/news/38221/the-mctrain-the-rise-and-fall-of-mcdonalds-ambitious-plan-to-conquer-the-railroads?utm_source=pocket-newtab (to the tune of Crazy Train) You sure ain't eatin' kale on the McDonald's train!
January 25, 20214 yr £794m package to reopen British lines unveiled TWO lines in England which have been closed for more than 50 years are due to be reopened under a £794m investment package announced on January 23 by British transport secretary, Mr Grant Shapps. MORE https://www.railjournal.com/infrastructure/794m-package-to-reopen-british-lines-unveiled/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
February 22, 20214 yr a new high speed rail line opened in china on feb 8: https://www.railwaygazette.com/high-speed/lianyungang-urumqi-high-speed-corridor-completed/58493.article
February 22, 20214 yr here is more on the new delta region chinese high speed line -- it was the last section -- 350kph -- it also links up with rail line that goes all the way out west to uyghur territory --- and eventually to europe: http://www.uzdaily.com/en/post/63522 all china map: goals to connect to the west:
March 9, 20214 yr Could Trains Replace Planes On Lufthansa’s Domestic Routes? https://simpleflying.com/lufthansa-planes-vs-trains/ This is a great model for Cleveland Hopkins airport if Amtrak’s expansion happens. Amtrak has already announced intentions for a Hopkins station for the west and southbound trains from downtown CLE as part of the expansion proposal. I think the trains from both Buffalo and Pittsburgh should be extended to get to Hopkins as well. That would mean that all 154 weekly CLE trains would hit both downtown and the airport - 22 trains a day to start. “Lufthansa today revealed that it is to operate new “sprinter” trains to select major cities from Frankfurt as part of a rail and fly partnership with German train operator Deutsche Bahn. The high-speed trains will reduce train journey times to major cities from the airline’s Frankfurt Airport. ”The airline has a connections guarantee, meaning that if the connecting train is delayed, Lufthansa will rebook the passenger.” When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
April 2, 20214 yr contracts signed to start work on the first phase of a high speed rail line from bangkok,thailand to laos: https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/high-speed/three-contracts-signed-for-thai-high-speed-line/
May 27, 20214 yr Nice report in the WSJ today on Alstom's hydrogen-powered trains. They are currently cost-competitive with diesel and are intended for use on lightly used routes that cannot support the cost of electrification. Sounds perfect for 3C+D. https://www.wsj.com/articles/hydrogen-powered-trains-have-arrived-11622025494?page=1 Remember: It's the Year of the Snake
June 2, 20214 yr Dang this puts Amtrak to shame... and the ticket was ~$270: Riding the Sleeper Train in Japan on a Heavy Snow Day (Tokyo→Izumo-shi) Edited June 2, 20214 yr by gildone
June 2, 20214 yr 2 hours ago, gildone said: Dang this puts Amtrak to shame... and the ticket was ~$270: Riding the Sleeper Train in Japan on a Heavy Snow Day (Tokyo→Izumo-shi) Japan is an amazing place, but watching this also reminds me why it's the one place in the world I've been that is super intimidating. There is little in English--so just watching that guy work the shower machine brings back nightmares of trying to figure things out. And the Tokyo subway system? Good luck at 2 am figuring that out! 😀
June 25, 20213 yr More Sleeper Trains Coming To Europe: https://nypost.com/2021/06/23/hotels-on-rails-sleeper-trains-are-coming-to-europe/ "Midnight Trains will be a “hotel on rails” with a launch set for 2024, The Guardian reported. The French start-up announced its plan to create a rail network that would connect its Paris hub to 12 other cities across seven countries, including the UK. "The “hotel-style” sleeper train with private rooms and dining options aims to be an affordable, eco-conscious alternative to air travel, which accounts for approximately 2.5% of global greenhouse emissions."
June 25, 20213 yr Imagine what a boost to remote working overnight trains to East Coast cities would be. We wouldn't have to wake up at 3:00 a.m. for 5:00 a.m. flights anymore nor have to stay the night at expensive East Coast hotels in order to conduct a day of business in those cities. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 25, 20213 yr On 6/2/2021 at 5:34 PM, Cleburger said: Japan is an amazing place, but watching this also reminds me why it's the one place in the world I've been that is super intimidating. There is little in English--so just watching that guy work the shower machine brings back nightmares of trying to figure things out. And the Tokyo subway system? Good luck at 2 am figuring that out! 😀 I lived in Japan for several years and the transit systems are not too difficult to understand. Once you learn the basics of the ticketing and transfers, it's remarkably easy for non-Japanese readers - nearly everything important will also be available in English. Also: subways in Tokyo and across Japan stop running at midnight. I don't think there are any 24 subways in Japan. I will never be satisfied with transit in the US after living in Japan.
August 30, 20213 yr a 6 station extension on singapore’s east coast line just opened yesterday: https://www.railjournal.com/infrastructure/second-stage-of-singapores-thomson-east-coast-line-opens/
August 30, 20213 yr london rail is back to over 50% pre-covid passengers: https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/metros/more-than-50-of-pre-covid-passenger-numbers-return-to-london-underground/
September 7, 20213 yr you many not have guessed this — the number two country for high speed rail is ... spain! more: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/spain-high-speed-rail-network/index.html
September 20, 20213 yr taiwan $6B+ hi-speed rail project to yilan county there is competition for the stations: Yilan high-speed rail link to rely on consent: MOTC Taipei Times Excerpt Sep 17, 2021 The government has yet to decide on a location for the terminal station of a planned high-speed rail extension line to Yilan County, but would not implement any plan without the consent of local residents, Minister of Transportation and Communications Wang Kwo-tsai (王國材) said yesterday. Wang made the statement after the Executive Yuan approved amendments to the Railway Act (鐵路法) in a Cabinet meeting in the morning. The amendments would enhance oversight of railway safety and ensure sustainable operations of state-run railway services, the Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) said. more: https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2021/09/17/2003764512
November 19, 20213 yr whooo boy -- i dk, i dk about this lol! jr east demonstrates driverless shinkansen: https://www.railjournal.com/regions/asia/jr-east-demonstrates-driverless-shinkansen-operation/
December 4, 20213 yr Not Just Bikes always manages to put together a great video. The Trains that Killed an Airline: Edited December 7, 20213 yr by gildone
December 13, 20213 yr "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 16, 20213 yr "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 29, 20213 yr "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
December 30, 20213 yr wow! check out the new orient express la dolce vita train: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/luxury-orient-express-train-to-debut-in-italy-in-2023/index.html
January 14, 20223 yr sao paulo order in for east-west expansion of line 15: São Paulo Metro orders 19 more trains for Line 15-Silver monorail more: https://www.railjournal.com/fleet/sao-paulo-metro-orders-19-more-trains-for-line-15-silver-monorail/
January 14, 20223 yr paris line 4 reaches bagneux: Paris Line 4 reaches Bagneux as driverless conversion moves forward 14 January 2022 FRANCE: Paris transport authority Île-de-France Mobilités and operator RATP opened the southern extension of metro Line 4 to Bagneux-Lucie Aubrac on January 13. more: https://www.railwaygazette.com/metros/paris-line-4-reaches-bagneux-as-driverless-conversion-moves-forward/60719.article
January 14, 20223 yr hmm .... Work begins on new line to connect North and South Korea Jan 14, 2022 | Infrastructure more: https://www.railjournal.com/infrastructure/work-begins-on-new-line-to-connect-north-and-south-korea/
March 22, 20223 yr Euro-American task force to help Ukrainian railways The task force says more trains need to be made available to transport refugees. https://www.railjournal.com/news/euro-american-task-force-to-help-ukrainian-railways/ "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
April 18, 20223 yr germany & denmark broke ground for a rail and road tunnel— it should open in 2029: *** “Travel time by train from Hamburg to Copenhagen will be reduced to only 2h 30min, which is an important signal for the railway as a means of transport in the 21st century,” he said. The current journey time between Copenhagen and Hamburg is 4h 30min. *** Once open, the tunnel will have capacity for 70 freight and 38 passenger trains a day. Train journeys are expected to take seven minutes while car journeys will take 10 minutes. more: https://www.railjournal.com/infrastructure/ground-breaking-ceremony-held-for-fehmarn-belt-tunnel/
May 29, 20223 yr "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 8, 20223 yr berlin on the move: Agreement reached on next steps for Berlin rail projects Two rail projects in Berlin have moved forward following an agreement on what to do next. https://www.railjournal.com/infrastructure/agreement-reached-on-next-steps-for-berlin-rail-projects/
June 8, 20223 yr paris line 12 extended: Paris metro Line 12 extended Line 12 now terminates at Mairie d’Aubervilliers. The extension runs for 1.9km in tunnel. PARIS Transport Authority (RATP) celebrated the opening of a 1.9km extension of metro Line 12 on May 31. The extension runs from Front Populaire in Aubervilliers to Mairie d’Aubervilliers, with a single intermediate station at Aimé Césaire. The project cost €243.9m and was financed by central government, the Île-de-France region and the department of Seine-Saint-Denis. more: https://www.railjournal.com/passenger/metros/paris-metro-line-12-extended/
June 8, 20223 yr in case you were wondering --- Global metro ridership dropped 40% during 2020 as pandemic hit May 31, 2022 | Metros more: https://www.railjournal.com/analysis/global-metro-ridership-dropped-40-during-2020-as-pandemic-hit/
June 8, 20223 yr I'm surprised it was only 40%. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
June 29, 20222 yr Can we buy these and just roll them back and forth between Tower City and Steelyard all day long on the future CVSR to downtown tracks? When is the last time I-71 turned a profit?
July 11, 20222 yr Europe is awesome Europe wants a high-speed rail network to replace airplanes Imagine a network of modern, super-fast and comfortable trains hurtling between every major city in the European Union, providing a reliable, comfortable and sustainable alternative to air travel. That was the vision outlined by rail industry leaders in Lyon, France, on June 29, amid ambitious European plans to double high-speed rail use by 2030 and triple current levels by 2050…."We want to see high-speed trains with 1,000 seats each connecting places around Europe on a frequent basis," says Nick Brooks, secretary general of ALLRAIL. "This will lead to low fares and high revenue. While other competing long-distance transport modes are setting themselves 'net zero' emission targets, rail can do it bigger and better. The outcomes of this study must enable high-speed rail to become the backbone of long-distance travel in Europe." https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/europe-high-speed-rail-network/index.html "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
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